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PICTURE: Old Windsor stormed into the Semi Finals of the League Cup this season after thrashing Singh Sabha 5-1 in the Quarter Finals stage at the Recreation Ground on Saturday. PHOTO: Gary House
There will be a new name on the East Berkshire League Cup trophy this season after the sole remaining previous winners of the competition were beaten at the Quarter Finals stage on Saturday.
Singh Sabha won the competition in 2019 and 2022 but will have to wait another year for the chance to become three times winners after being dumped out by Old Windsor following a 5-1 defeat at the Recreational Ground.
The Os have had the better over their old rivals in this campaign, now unbeaten against Singh Sabha in the three previous meetings, and stormed into the Semi Finals stage. There was goals in the first half from leading scorer Joseph Allen as well as Lewis Corney and Shane Qoloni, whilst both Sam George and new signing Matteo Giacobbe came off the bench to wrap up the win after the break.
Southcote had not scored a goal in open play in their two previous matches but hit the back of the net twice to emerge victorious over Virginia Water Reserves, 2-0 the scoreline at The Timbers. The goals came either side of the break via Jayden Sunderland and substitute Thierry Dyson.
Frontline needed penalties to get the better of lower-league Sandhurst Town Royals following a pulsating 4-4 draw at Sandhurst Memorial Park. The Premier Division title contenders eventually winning 4-2 in the shoot-out. Imran Kassim hit the back of the net twice for Frontline, with both Ali Khan and Sayyid Saleh also on the scoresheet. Sandhurst can take a lot of plaudits for their performance with Thomas Power bagging a brace, and further efforts from Owen Elliot and Harry Winkley.
South Reading will represent Division One in the Semi Finals following their 2-0 win against Premier Division side, Hype Train, at Calcot Recreation Ground. Both goals came in the second half of the tie through Barry Elmore and Jordan Sawyer.
There was a potential shift in momentum in the battle against relegation from the Premier Division with both Chalvey Sports Reserves and Stoke Poges collecting three valuable points last weekend.
Chalvey finally got the better of bottom-side Sandhurst Reds, at the third time of asking this season, following a 4-3 success at the Memorial Park. The Reds’ goals all came in the final 20 minutes of the contest and during a late rally through Jamie Barrett, Callum Williams and Toby Illingworth. The success moves The Stabmonks out of the bottom three and as high as sixth position in the table, now three points above the drop zone.
PICTURE: The bottom half of the Premier Division table as it currently stands, with both Chalvey Sports Reserves and Stoke Poges winning last weekend to improve their chances of avoiding relegation this season.
And for the second weekend running, Stoke Poges beat Pundit 2-1 at George Pitcher Memorial Ground having previously eliminated the same opposition from the Ascot & Feilden District Cup. Both Ryan Manton and Joe Rose were on the score sheet for Stoke. Their side remain second from bottom but, crucially now just two points from safety. The results mean that Pundit drop into the bottom three for the first time in the campaign. The Pundit goal was scored by Adam Durrant.
The battle for the Division One title and promotion into the top flight raged on last weekend with both Cressex and Old Windsor Reserves making ground on the teams around. There is now just six points separating the top half of the league table with four months in the season remaining.
Cressex moved up two places to second, one point behind current leaders FC Baylis United, after a narrow 2-1 home win against Reading Tigers. The goals came either side of the break at Holmers Farm Recreation Ground from Joseph Hobart and Harrison Low. The victory means Cressex has completed the double over The Tigers this season having won the reverse fixture just two weeks prior.
Old Windsor Reserves climbed back into the top four and outside of the promotion places on goals difference only following their 4-2 win at KS Gryf. A goal from Sean Blandford gave The Os a fantastic start at The Polish Association but, the team then had to recover from falling behind to take all three points. The difference between the two sides was late goals from substitute Joe Webster, Callum Kitchen and Blandford.
AFC Reading are still in with an outside change of figuring in the promotion picture after a 2-1 success against Real Saracens at Berkshire County Sports Club. Joe Pocock and Ian Addae scored either side of half time for the victors, while substitute Muqaddas Rejput registered for Saracens.
Eton Wick made it back-to-back away wins in the League when thrashing bottom side FC Riverside 6-1 at Palmer Park. Orren Oliver was the destroyer-in-chief with a hat-trick, with Archie Branwhite bagging two and Nathan Horder completing the rout. The Riverside consolation effort came from Eduard Lupu.
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
